Attention vs. Intention-The Key to Achieving More
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When it comes to staying in the moment, the key is to understand the difference between where your attention is and where your intention is.
From the dictionary:
Attention: Concentration of the mental powers upon an object; a close or careful observing or listening.
Intention: Course of action that one plans on following.
From these definitions, it is obvious that attention takes place in the present, and intention concerns itself with the future. And yet, most people reverse them and get into trouble. In improv, performers are trained to put all of their concentration on the present; to stay in the moment and work with the people around them. At the same time, they need to be clear on their intentions. They must have an idea of where the scene and action will go. As we have previously seen, an improviser must be willing to let go of that intention when things change (and that point create a new intention).
Time after time, unfortunately, performers reverse the roles. They put their attention on the future and their intentions in the present. An improviser may start a scene and focus heavily on where the scene will ultimately lead. By doing this, she is putting her attention on the future, and not on the people around her. By focusing single-mindedly on where she wants to go, she then tries to force things in that direction. Therefore, her intention is in the present. She intends for people to flow with her right now.
This unfortunate reversal happens often in life. A person in an unpleasant situation will put his intention on the now and his attention on the future. For example, take two people who hate their jobs. Let's call them Steve and John.
Steve is unhappy, and he spends his time lamenting about how awful things are and how he wished it was different. If one of his co-workers does something to upset him (which happens quite often) he gets angry and complains about how she should do things differently. He spends a great deal of his time wishing and daydreaming of a better job.
John is also unhappy. He also dreams of a better job, but he doesn't spend all day daydreaming. Instead, he focuses on researching other job opportunities, and he enrolls in a night class to improve his "marketability." John's co-workers also often upset him, but instead of wishing they were different, he uses it as fuel to be more productive in his job search.
So what's the difference between these two?
Steve is clearly putting his attention on the future. Daydreaming and wishing don't accomplish anything. At the same time, his complaining is indicative of the fact that he is trying to change things he cannot. His intention is in the present.
John has a much healthier approach. While his intention is in the future ("I will get a new job soon.") his attention is on the present ("What can I do now to get a new job?").Who do you think is going to get a new job first?
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that in this example Steve is more negative and John is more positive. This balance between intention and attention is one of the key things that sets positive people apart from negative people.
Think of a situation in your life that makes you unhappy. If it's persistent, it is likely that you have your intention and attention reversed. Try switching it up, and see how that helps.
Avish Parashar is a dynamic professional speaker who shows organizations and individuals how to get what they want using the Art and Science of improv comedy. He weaves together humorous stories, witty observations, and interactive exercises from improvisational comedy to get people laughing, learning, and motivated! Avish is most commonly called upon to deliver programs on Motivation, Sales, and Communication
For more free articles, downloads, and resources, visit http://www.AvishParashar.com
To learn how to apply the powerful principles of improv comedy to your own business or life visit http://www.ImprovforEveryone.com
